Two Year
Ministry Plan

A little over a year ago, Grace purchased over 12 acres of land in Piedmont for our Natural Burial site. We believe that death and dying are discipleship issues that the church needs to be involved in, and this has prompted us to pursue the option of natural burial—a way to shepherd our hearts and minds as we surround our loved ones in death. As a peaceful, less expensive, and simple alternative, there is no vault, coffin, or embalming.

Over the past 15 months, we have buried eight people, and it has been humbling to be able to walk through the grieving process with these families. We are thankful for this unique opportunity to wrap around families and support them while they grieve.

We have also been able to develop the land in various ways so we can better serve our church body. Land has been cleared, fencing installed, trees moved, and stone columns are being added. We have also built a shed to store tents, chairs, and other items that are used to serve families during the burial process, and in the future, we hope to add a chapel as well.

Natural burial has created new discipleship opportunities for our members as well. Volunteers have been involved in making caskets, digging graves, landscaping, greeting, parking assistance, connecting at the burial site, preparing flowers, and sending prayer cards. We are so thankful for each volunteer who makes this ministry possible, and we pray that God would continue to use our efforts to bless the church.

If you are interested in learning more about natural burial or getting involved as a volunteer, click below.

Walking through the death of a loved one is a complicated and difficult time. As a church, Grace feels responsible to shepherd members during this process, specifically through natural burial. Instead of embalming, vaults, and coffins, natural burial is a simple alternative involving a pine box or a shroud. Not only is this better for the environment, it is inexpensive, and most importantly, allows for Grace to support members in a tangible, intimate way.

Since purchasing property in Piedmont, Grace has partnered in the passing of two men, including Donald Banke, the father of Spartanburg member Chip Banke. Donald, who died in September, was buried peacefully in an intimate graveside ceremony, surrounded by the natural serenity of the grounds. Chip’s former community group gathered in support, helping him lower his dad into the ground and fill the grave.

"Grace Church staff were incredibly caring, honoring, respectful, and nurturing in the burial experience with Dad,” Chip says. “I truly felt loved while grieving."

"Seeing and experiencing natural burial and how it brought the Banke family together with our church body is something that I will never forget,” says Spartanburg campus pastor Daniel Black. “Instead of keeping the grieving family at a distance, it allowed for men that Chip has led in community groups to have an opportunity to serve alongside him in the unique season of burying his father. This shared experience absolutely helps our church better care for our members through loss."

The site in Piedmont includes more than 12 acres of peaceful, rolling grounds, which will allow Grace to partner with thousands of members in the burial process. For more information on natural burial, click below, or email Jennifer Dill at [email protected]

This month, Matt Williams shared a new discipleship opportunity with our church body. We believe that death and dying are discipleship issues that the church needs to be involved in, and this has prompted us to pursue the option of natural burial—a way to shepherd our hearts and minds as we surround our loved ones in death. As a peaceful, less expensive, and simple alternative, there is no vault, coffin, or embalming.

There are four reasons we believe natural burial will enable us to disciple people well:

• Natural burial provides a way for us to be good stewards of the environment.
• Natural burial provides a way for us to be good stewards of our financial resources.
• Natural burial is aligned with our discipleship view of hope. Our hope is not in the ability to preserve and protect our bodies, but in God’s ability to recreate us after death.
• Natural burial gives us the ability to share the dying process more fully with other believers and their families. We will be able to offer care, support, and encouragement to one another.

To hear Matt cast vision around this opportunity, click the video below. To learn more about natural burial or to volunteer to serve, click below.